This Research aimed to evaluate the metabolic status and behavior changes during the transition period in dairy goats from three breeds, under tropical conditions. Thirty multiparous female goats were kept in pens, distributed randomly by breeds. Infrared cameras were fitted in the pens to monitor the animals, and its activities were recorded. Goats displayed varied idle, standing, walking, and feeding behaviors at kidding day ( P < 0.10) when compared with the days after and before. Agnostic interactions prevailed between 3.33 and 7.98% of the time on the day of kidding. There was a day effect for the exploratory activities ( P < 0.10), where the most exploratory activities were observed on the day of kidding. The milk production and fat content differed according to breed and lactation week. Collective pens for lactating goats, kept in a tropical environment, do not compromise the social behavior and welfare.

RESUMO -Esta pesquisa foi realizada para avaliar o balanço de nitrogênio, as concentrações de ureia na urina e no plasma e a síntese de proteína microbiana em novilhas alimentadas com dietas contendo cana-de-açúcar tratada com óxido de cálcio.Utilizaram-se 20 novilhas mestiças Holandês-Zebu com peso corporal médio inicial de 200 kg distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os animais foram alojados em baias individuais cobertas, com piso de concreto, providas de cocho individual de concreto para alimentação e bebedouro automático comum a duas baias. O período experimental foi de 21 dias, e a coleta de dados foi realizada nos sete dias finais. As dietas foram formuladas para ser isoproteicas, com 14% de proteína bruta, e continham 71% de cana-de-açúcar (com 0; 0,75; 1,5 ou 2,25% de óxido de cálcio na matéria natural) corrigida com 1% de mistura ureia e sulfato de amônio (9:1) e 29% de concentrado. A canade-açúcar foi fornecida aos animais após 24 horas de tratamento com óxido de cálcio. O tratamento da cana-de-açúcar com óxido de cálcio influenciou o balanço de nitrogênio, pois ocasionou redução tanto no consumo como na quantidade de nitrogênio digerido e retido. O nitrogênio retido (em % do N ingerido e do N digerido) também reduziu linearmente conforme aumentaram os níveis de óxido de cálcio na cana-de-açucar. O uso de óxido de cálcio em níveis de até 2,25% no tratamento da cana-de-açúcar não afeta as concentrações de ureia na urina e no plasma nem a excreção de ureia na urina e a síntese de proteína microbiana em novilhas.Palavras-chave: cal, plasma, purinas microbianas, retenção de nitrogênio Nitrogen metabolism in heifers fed with diets containing sugar cane treated with calcium oxideABSTRACT -This study was carried out to evaluate the nitrogen balance, the urea concentrations in urine and plasma and the microbial protein synthesis in heifers fed diets containing sugar cane treated with calcium oxide. Twenty Holsteinzebu crossbred heifers, with average initial body weight of 200 kg were used, distributed in a completely randomized design, with four treatments and five repetitions. The animals were housed in covered individual stalls, with concrete floor, provided with individual concrete trough for feeding and automatic drinkers common for every two stalls. The experimental period was of 21 days, and data collection was performed on the last seven days. The diets were formulated to be isoprotein, with14%crude protein and they contained 71% sugar cane (with 0; 0.75; 1.5 or 2.25% CaO, in natural matter) corrected with 1% of urea and ammonium sulfate (9:1) and 29% of concentrate. Sugar cane was offered to the animals after 24 hours of treatment with chromium oxide. Treatment of sugar cane with calcium oxide affected nitrogen balance by reducing intake and quantity of retained and digested nitrogen. The retained nitrogen (in % of ingested N and digested N) was also linerarly reduced according to increases in levels of calcium oxide in the sugar cane. Use of ca...

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects inclusion of 0%, 33.3%, 66.7% and 100% natural matter (NM) of mesquite pod meal (MPM), in substitution of corn, on the intake, digestibility and feeding behavior of lactating Saanen goats. The forage:concentrate ratio in the diet was 40:60, using elephant grass silage as a forage source. Eight adult lactating goats with about 60 days in milk and weighting 50 kg were divided into two 4 × 4 latin squares and four 17-day experimental periods. Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrient (TDN) intakes were not influenced by MPM levels. Ether extract (0.51; 0.34; 0.36; 0.20 kg/day) and non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) (0.54; 0.53; 0.49; 0.36 kg/day) intakes showed a linear effect with increased MPM. Organic matter (OM) and NDF intakes presented a quadratic behavior. The maximum OM intake was estimated with the replacement of 40.5%. The maximum estimated intakes for NDF were 0.665 kg/day and 14.8 g/kg body weight, with a replacement close to 60%. Nutrient digestibility coefficients and TDN levels (655.0 g/kg) were not affected, except for NFC. The time spent eating, ruminating and idle was not influenced by the addition of MPM. The feeding rate of DM had a linear decrease which reflected the intake restriction. Corn replacement with MPM should not exceed 40.5%, although its total replacement does not interfere with the intake of DM, CP and TDN on the apparent digestibility of nutrients and most ingestive behavior parameters.

ABSTRACT. This study aimed to evaluate the ingestive behavior of sheep fed increasing levels of mesquite pod meal (0, 15, 30 and 45% in total dry matter diet), replacing grass silage elephant. Eight noncastrated Santa Inês sheep with average weight of 32 kg were divided into two 4 x 4 Latin squares, each lasting 15 days. The sheep were submitted to visual observation every ten minutes, for 24 hours, in the 13 th day of each experimental period. There was no significant regression (p > 0.05) relative to the time spent on feeding, rumination and resting, depending on the levels of substitution of mesquite pod meal. The average time spent on feeding, rumination and resting was 5.64, 10.88 and 8.8h day -1 , respectively. There was a positive linear effect (p < 0.05) regarding the levels of replacement of elephant grass silage by mesquite pod meal on dry matter intake (DMI), neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI), feeding efficiency of DM, rumination efficiency of DM, rumination efficiency of NDF. The use of observation intervals of up to 30 minutes does not alter the assessment of time spent on feeding, rumination and resting.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients, performance, and plasma glucose concentration of ram lambs fed diets containing peach palm meal substituting maize (0, 10, 40, 60, and 85 % dry matter (DM)). Thirty Santa Inês rams with an average initial body weight of 21.6 ± 0.87 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with five diets and six replicates. The substitution of the maize for the peach palm meal affected (P < 0.05) the intakes of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap), total carbohydrates (TC), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and metabolizable energy (ME), which decreased linearly (P < 0.05); the intake of ether extract (EE), however, fit an increasing linear equation (P < 0.05). The apparent digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, NDFap, and TC decreased linearly (P < 0.05) as the level of peach palm meal in the concentrate was increased. The total weight gain and the average daily gain decreased by 0.09 and 0.001 kg with each level of substitution of the maize for peach palm meal, respectively. It is recommended to substitute 40 % of the maize for peach palm meal.

RESUMO -Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da hidrólise da cana-de-açúcar com óxido de cálcio (CaO) sobre o balanço de nitrogênio, as concentrações de ureia na urina e no plasma e a síntese na proteína microbiana em caprinos. Foram utilizados oito caprinos da raça Saanen, machos castrados, com peso corporal médio de 22,6 kg e 4 meses de idade, distribuídos em dois quadrados latinos 4 × 4, em quatro períodos experimentais de 14 dias. As rações, formuladas para ser isoproteicas, com 14% de proteína bruta (PB), foram compostas de 70% de cana-de-açúcar (tratada com 0; 0,75; 1,5 ou 2,25% de óxido de cálcio na matéria natural e corrigida com 1% de ureia) e 30% de concentrado e fornecidas à vontade.A cana-de-açúcar com óxido de cálcio foi picada em desintegrador estacionário, pesada, acondicionada em baldes plásticos de 50 litros e tratada com o óxido de cálcio para ser fornecida aos animais após 24 horas de armazenamento. O balanço de nitrogênio, as concentrações de ureia na urina e no plasma e as excreções de ureia na urina não foram influenciadas pelo tratamento da cana-de-açúcar com óxido de cálcio. A concentração de alantoína (% das purinas totais) foi maior e a de ácido úrico menor nas dietas com cana-de-açúcar hidrolisada com óxido de cálcio em relação à cana in natura. A produção e a eficiência microbiana não foram afetadas pela adição de óxido de cálcio à cana-de-açúcar em dietas para caprinos em crescimento.Palavras-chave: cal, derivados de purinas, eficiência microbiana Nitrogen balance, urea concentrations and microbial protein synthesis in goats fed diets containing sugar cane treated with calcium oxide ABSTRACT -The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of sugar cane hydrolysis with calcium oxide (CaO) on nitrogen balance, concetrations of urea in the urine and in the plasma and synthesis in microbial protein in goats. Eight castrated male Saanen breed goats, with 22.6 kg average body weight and at four months of age were used distributed in two 4 × 4 Latin squares, during four 14-day experimental periods. The rations which were formulated to be isoprotein, with 14% crude protein (CP) were composed of 70% sugar cane (treated with 0; 0.75; 1.5 or 2.25% of calcium oxide in natural matter basis and corrected with 1% urea) and 30% of concentrate given ad libitum to animals. Sugar cane with calcium oxide was chopped in a stationary chopper, weighted and stored in 50-L plastic buckets and treated with calcium oxide to be given to the animals after 24 hours of storage. Nitrogen balance, urine and plasma urea concentrations and urine urea excretion were not affected by sugar cane +calcium oxide treatment. Concetration of allantoin (% total purine) was higher and the uric acid concentration was lower in diets with sugar cane hidrolised with calcium oxide in relation to in natura sugar cane. The microbial production and efficiency are not affected by addition of calcium oxide to sugar cane in diets for growing goats.

This study aimed to evaluate intake, digestibility, ingestive behaviour, and body weight variation in lambs fed mesquite pod meal (0, 30, 60 and 90%) in substitution of ground corn grains (as-fed basis) in pelleted diets. Twelve Santa Ines×Dorper lambs with average body weight of 25.0±1.8 kg were distributed through three 4×4 Latin Squares consisting of four periods and four treatments. Diets consisted of 30% alfalfa hay and 70% concentrate. The experimental period was 60 days, divided into 15-day periods. The intakes of dry matter (DM), total carbohydrates (TC) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were not influenced (P>0.05) by the different levels of mesquite pod meal added in substitution of corn. The digestibility coefficients of DM, organic matter (OM), ether extracts (EE), neutral detergent fibre free of ash and protein (NDFap), TC and the TDN decreased linearly (P<0.05) as the level of mesquite pod meal in the diet was increased. Feed efficiency [g DM and neutral detergent fibre (NDF)/hour] was not influenced (P>0.05) by the mesquite pod meal levels; contrastingly, this feedstuff caused a reduction of 12.13 and 1.9 g in rumination efficiency (g DM and NDF/hour, respectively) for every percentage unit added. The average weight gain showed quadratic behaviour (P<0.05) as a result of the substitution level, and maximum weight gain was estimated at 275.9 g/day at the substitution level of 47.5%.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of alkaloid extracts of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) D.C. pods obtained by two extraction methods as compared with sodium monensin on the gas production kinetic, mitigation of methane, and rumen fermentation products using wheat bran or Tifton 85 hay as substrates, by the semi-automatic in vitro gas production technique. A completely randomized design was adopted, and two natural additives were tested made from mesquite pod (alkaloid extract I and alkaloid extract II) at three levels (3.9, 7.9, and 12 μg), sodium monensin 5 μM (positive control), and no inclusion of additives (negative control). The volume of gases produced by the degradation of the fibrous fraction of wheat bran was influenced by the concentration of the extract I added to the medium, and the amounts of 7.9 and 12 μg were equal to monensin at the lowest value. The degradation rate of the fibrous carbohydrates with additive extract I at 12 μg was lower in relation to monensin. When Tifton 85 hay was utilized, alkaloid extract I provided a shorter colonization time as compared with monensin at the added amounts of 7.9 and 12 μg and higher production of gases from the fibrous fraction but without interfering with the total volume of gases produced during 96 h of fermentation of carbohydrates. In the periods of 12 and 24 h of incubation, utilizing alkaloid extract I, the mean values of methane production with wheat bran and Tifton 85 hay were lower than monensin (p < 0.05) when the respective amounts of 7.9 and 12 μg were added. Alkaloid extract I has similar potential to sodium in reducing production of total gases, methane, and the acetate/propionate ratio.